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Fabio
Valenti - on target at
the Beveree |
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Having been under the cosh
for most of the first half,
a depleted Harrow side launched
a late smash and grab raid to
return from the Beveree with
three important points.
Edwin Stein was forced into
further changes from an already
depleted line-up, notably missing
skipper Richard Clarke who failed
a pre-match fitness test on
the injury he picked up against
St Alban’s. Dean Marney
and Daniel Dyer were drafted
into the line-up, while goalkeeper
Danny Gladman and forward Robert
Charles made their first starts.
Dyer was to the fore in some
early Harrow raids up the right
wing, setting up Davis Haule
for a shot wide and another
shot that was well held by Iga.
But it was the home side who
were on top for most of the
first half. Sestanovich saw
his shot deflect onto a post,
and Gladman saved after a mix-up
between himself and Adam Everitt.
Everitt and Dean Marney each
made great saving tackles, and
Everitt cleared a dangerous
corner off the line. Pittwood
shot wide and Gladman made a
full-length save from Mead’s
shot. A rare Harrow effort at
the other end saw Michael Currie
turn a defender and hit a shot
past the post.
The second half started in
similar fashion, with Marney
doing enough to force Sestanovich
to shoot over and Perry Norman
clearing a header off the line.
When Everitt was injured making
a tackle, it looked an even
tougher assignment for the men
from Earlsmead. But Fabio Valenti
cut in to force a good save
from Iga to show that the visitors
could pose a threat.
Berry hit a 30-yarder just
wide, and Norman made a fine
tackle to dispossess a breaking
Hampton forward. All the time,
Wayne Walters was performing
outstanding work in breaking
up visiting attacks before they
reached the danger area. After
some dodgy performances last
season following his move from
Wembley, Walters now looks at
home in the Premier Division
and has been a shining light
for Harrow so far this season.
After 74 minutes, Chris Jones
worried Iga with a chip that
went just over the crossbar,
and a minute later Harrow took
the lead. The ball was worked
out to Valenti on the left wing.
He came inside and crossed to
the far post. Dyer’s header
across goal should have been
easy meat for Iga, but he spilled
the ball and John Lawford was
on hand to stroke it into the
net.
Hampton were shell-shocked
to go behind, and Charles nearly
added a second with an overhead
kick from Dyer’s cross
that went just over the bar.
It was two after 80 minutes.
Dyer played the ball along the
right-hand touchline, setting
Lawford free to cut in on goal.
He drew Iga from goal and unselfishly
squared the ball to Valenti
to slam into the roof of the
net.
Late in the game, Gladman missed
a punch, a rare mistake in an
otherwise strong debut, but
Haule was on hand to clear off
the line, and Hampton’s
effort from the rebound went
over the bar.
This result, if not the performance,
will be a great boost to Harrow
confidence, and they will now
be looking forward to Saturday’s
trip to Boreham Wood, another
venue where they won last season.
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